"I am deeply saddened by this outcome and would like to thank all of the people who have put their hearts and souls into this business over the years," he said.

I’m devastated that our much-loved UK restaurants have gone into administration. I am deeply saddened by this outcome and would like to thank all of the people who have put their hearts and souls into this business over the years. Jamie Oliver

A statement by the Jamie Oliver Group said the board of Jamie's Italian Limited appointed business consultants KPMG as administrators of the brand's 23 outlets in Britain.

"Jamie Oliver Holdings, which operates Jamie Oliver Limited and Jamie Oliver Licensing Limited, as well as the international restaurant franchise business - Jamie's Italian International Limited - will continue to trade as normal," the statement said.

Oliver said he wanted to "thank all the customers who have enjoyed and supported us" since Jamie's Italian launched in 2008.